The Three Month Plan

Kelly Callahan had everything going for her. Everything that is, except for a relationship. It wasn’t for the lack of trying, it just seemed like she was a magnet for all the wrong ones. But all of that was about to change the minute she laid eyes on Jake. More

Kelly Callahan had everything going for her. Everything that is, except for a relationship. It wasn’t for the lack of trying, it just seemed like she was a magnet for all the wrong ones. But all of that was about to change the minute she laid eyes on Jake. On a dare from her close friend, Michelle, Kelly accepts a challenge to date and become Jake’s girlfriend within three months. The consequence of losing is global humiliation, and she refuses to lose.

Enlisting the help of her childhood friend and confidant, Brian, Kelly manages to catch Jakes attention. She also unknowingly hooks Brian who tries to sabotage the plan. Kelly finds herself with a dilemma; take the final step with Jake and win the plan or follow her heart and reveal her feelings for Brian.

Horses were one of my first loves, and writing soon followed. As a child, I spent hours writing poems, and short stories (about horses). My parents realized that I was horse-obsessed and decided to buy me one after taking riding lessons for two years. I think they hoped that all of the hard work, and hours spent mucking stalls would help me give up this expensive hobby. They were wrong. Writing is still a passion of mine, although now I primarily write fiction. My first novel, Red Rock, was published in 2010, and big surprise, there are horses in it. My second novel, The Three Month Plan was released August 2013.Other Loves: My family, yoga, skincare and makeup, sushi, and raising money for pediatric cancer. I have two rescue dogs and would have more if there weren’t zoning restrictions. I’m always trying something new, as I tend to get bored very easily. Thankfully, my love of driving around with the gas light on fuels some excitement. I love novels with happy endings, and am a hopeful romantic. My latest obsession is browsing Netflix, and I can name all 50 states in alphabetical order in under 30 seconds. Do I feel a wager coming on?

Reviews

Review by:
Kathleen Anderson
on Nov. 8, 2013 :
The Three Month Plan is an enjoyable YA contemporary romance story about friendships and relationships ... sometimes you have to look right in front of you to recognize the person who loves you most.

Author Kimberley Patterson weaves an entertaining romance story set in San Diego, that follows the trials and tribulations of longtime childhood friends Kelly Callahan and Brian McMillan, as they stumble along love's path to recognizing the feelings that they've held and denied each other because they were too afraid to lose their close friendship.

Told in the first person narrative by Kelly and Brian in alternating chapters, the reader follows along as Kelly is in search of a serious relationship, and is goaded into a bet with best friend Michelle to get hottie surfer boy Jake Carter to ask her out within three months. But there is just one little problem, Kelly's hid her true feelings for Brian, and was afraid of ruining their friendship. Brian knows that Jake's a player who will break Kelly's heart, and when he reluctantly gives advice to Kelly to help her snag Jake, he realizes that he has always had feelings for her that goes beyond friendship. What should Kelly and Brian do: deny their true feelings for each other for the sake of their longtime friendship, or follow their heart?

The Three Month Plan is a lighthearted and tender love story about best friends who have deeper feelings for each other, and the trials and tribulations that they go through during a three month plan that leads them back to each other.

This is a cute coming of age romance with quirky characters, funny dialogue and amusing interactions, and a predictable storyline that still puts a smile on the reader's face. I really enjoyed that the chapters alternated between Kelly and Brian's perspectives, the reader is given the chance to get into each of their minds as the angst over their true feelings for each other duels with their reluctance to lose their close longtime friendship. This is the type of YA contemporary romance story that took me back to my own post-high school days when I was like Kelly, trying to figure out what to do with my life mixed with the youthful giddiness of agonizing over guys at the local beach.

I would recommend this fun romantic story to YA fans, it is an entertaining and easy read with a satisfying and sweet HEA ending.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

(reviewed 58 days after purchase)

Review by:
Andrea Murray
on Oct. 8, 2013 :
3 stars
I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Much like its San Diego setting, this novel is as light and sunny as spring-break at the beach. It’s a reminder of that heart-fluttering, “OMG, I can’t wait to see him!” feeling. With little to no sub-story, the plot is uncomplicated, making for an easy read, without the overload of characters and all their accoutrement. In fact, the only real drama belongs to Kelly, and oh to have Kelly’s dilemma! Two guys—the newcomer, with his dark hair and surfer’s body, and the best friend, with his curling blonde locks and “fix me” complex—vie for Kelly’s hand,. My, oh my!
A warning, though, the novel is predictable. Any chick flick fan will see the plot playing out well in advance of the ending. I felt like I was watching a teen movie on Nickelodeon (but with a lot of sexual tension and a hangover). It all sort of fell into place a little too simply and unrealistically for me. Everyone, even the man whore friend, seemed too squeaky clean. For example, when Brian sleeps with a girl then orders her out the next morning, she quickly forgives him at the next party and even propositions him again. When he refuses, she offers to drive him home! I don’t know a single woman who wouldn’t want to remove vital parts from his perfect physique, and other than yoga and walking her dog, Kelly doesn’t do much. Even Brian, who does at least work, waits tables at a beachside hangout frequented by his friends and lots of eye candy. Maybe this is real life for today’s twenty-somethings, but I’m not completely buying it.
I did like the climactic scene, which was sweet and cornily romantic. However, I’m not certain it fully redeems the rest of the novel.